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Editor's Picks

At a microscopic .05 millimeters, the skin around the eyes is the body’s thinnest, so it’s especially prone to drying out. This non-sensitizing formula won’t cause additional inflammation, says Dr. Mitchel Goldman. Even more, the moisture douse can “temporarily make fine lines disappear.”

Layering makeup over some eye creams can be like catching a greased pig. This light version absorbs quickly, making way for liner and shadow, says West Islip, N.Y., dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla. Caffeine deflates puffiness, while hyaluronic acid hydrates to soften crow’s-feet.

Sometimes affordable makeup comes with a tradeoff: the colors are less cool, the finishes more sheer, and the formulas don’t last past lunch. Drew Barrymore’s collection of blushes, shadows, liners, lipsticks, and foundations adjusted our expectations. Shades range from petal-soft to high-voltage, and finishes are silky, elegant and last forever. Equally impressive: Not a single piece is over $15.

Losing clumps of lashes to clingy, long-wearing mascaras is an unfortunate side effect of formulas that last and last. This lush mascara separates, conditions, and coats fringes with dark, shiny pigment, but then rinses away without excessive soap or scrubbing.

Ever gone to nab a rogue stray, only to end up with brows dotted with stubs? Time to upgrade. With a tapered end, “you can grab the hair right out,” says L.A. makeup artist Andre Sarmiento. “It’s so steady, it doesn’t hurt.”

This classic acts like a magnet for pigment. A wand applicator makes it easy to swipe the creamy base over lids, neutralizing redness and locking in color for budgeproof wear. Editors and pros, like makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani, can attest to its holding power. Yep, it's tough enough to anchor your smoky eyes from evening cocktails to midnight toast.

These tiny little pots pack a punch. The 12 shimmer-flecked shades leave behind an elegant smokiness that won’t slip or smear. “They’re really blendable, so you can get a light wash of color or a more smoldering intensity,” says L.A. pro Matthew VanLeeuwen.

Wear the tinted formula alone for subtle definition or layer it under your go-to mascara for fluttery volume. Swept on top of another formula, it works like a little raincoat, waterproofing your lashes.

20% off at esteelauder.com from 4/17 until 5/15 for the first 250 customers; use code INSTYLE20

If you followed Julia Stiles’s lead and plucked wispy arches in the ’90s, there’s still hope for your 2015 brows. “With the tiny little tip, you can really draw hair-like strokes,” says Jeung — making bare spots, like butterfly clips, a thing of the past.

For less than a green juice, you’ll get a formula that leaves your lashes thicker, longer, and darker. With softening panthenol and ceramides, hairs become so supple, “you can reapply midday and lashes won’t be stiff,” says Sabrina Bedrani.

If you have yet to master a basic smoky eye, this brush could change your life. “The shape of the bristles cuts the perfect angle,” making it easy to target color right into the crease, says Sarmiento. “I don’t know a single makeup artist who doesn’t own one.”

The padded rubber bumper and springy handle of this tool lift, spread, and flare every last lash. “The shape works for all eyes, even smaller ones,” says Jeung. As Quynh puts it: “There’s no better tool to help fake a good night’s rest.”

“It’s the best brush,” says L.A. makeup artist Kerry Malouf of the dense fibers that evenly coat lashes with jet-black pigment. “The formula is lengthening and thickening, with no clumpiness.” And it’s not going anywhere. “Even if you rub your eyes, this doesn’t move.”

Mineral-based makeup usually looks suited for the Mediterranean—which is great if you’re sunning in Santorini. This range looks like heaven on lids no matter where you are on the globe. “It also stays put, which is basically impossible to find in a mineral shadow,” says Bedrani.